Cap Mario Bellagambi

[Andy Fletcher]

Can anyone tell me if Cap Mario Bellagambi was C/O 363ª Squadriglia or 364ª Squadriglia during the later stages of the Tunisian Campaign and Sicilian Campaign.

Spitfires Over Sicily (Brian Cull et al) states C/O 363ª Squadriglia

Italian Aces of WWII (Giovanni Massimello & Giorgio Apostolo) states C/O 364ª Squadriglia (and that Ten Ugo Drago was C/O 363ª Squadriglia).

As the second book was published more recently I'd be inclined to believe the latter.

Between what dates did Bellagambi serve as C/O 364ª (or 363ª) Squadriglia. Also between what dates did Cap Giuseppe Giannelli serve as C/O 364ª Squadriglia.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[veltro]

Cap. Bellagambi was certainly CO of 364a Squadriglia since its promotion to Capitano on 8 June 1942 (and probably also some time before that date, as the other two COs of the other two Squadriglie of 150° Gruppo still had the rank of Tenente during the operations in Sicily with the Bf 109) and until the Armistice of September 8, 1943.

As for Ten. (not Cap.) Giuseppe Gianelli, he was CO of 365a Squadriglia in Sicily and until the Armistice. He probably was CO also before, but I have no precise dates for him.

Hope it helps

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Ferdinando,

Thanks very much for the info. Your answer raises another query on my part.

You state that Ten Giuseppe Gianelli was C/O 365ª Squadriglia during the Sicilian Campaign where as Spitfires Over Sicily states that Ten Fausto Filippi was C/O 365ª Squadriglia. So was Filippi flying with 365ª Squadriglia but not in the capacity of C/O.

Thanks very much for your help, it's much appreciated.

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

[veltro]

Originally Posted by Andy Fletcher

Spitfires Over Sicily states that Ten Fausto Filippi was C/O 365ª Squadriglia. So was Filippi flying with 365ª Squadriglia but not in the capacity of C/O.

Some statements of "Spitfires Over Sicily" do surprise me, in fact.

I have not the position of Ten. Filippi in the unit, but he certainly was no CO.

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Ferdinando,

Many thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Brian]

Hi Andy & Ferdinando

Thanks for the updates/corrections re 'Spitfires over Sicily' - I will pass on this information to my good friend and eminant Italian air historian Nicola Malizia, who kindly provided the details.

Best

Brian

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Brian,

I hope you don't think that I'm in anyway deriding your book, it's just that info from different sources contradicted each other and I'm just trying to establish which is accurate. I know your book was written a while ago now and realise that new info often comes to light.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Gianandrea Bussi]

According to the book about 150°, 151° and 153°Gruppo written by Gen. Eugenio Tarantola, Bellagambi was commander of 364a Sq. since december 1941 (before him, Cap. Luigi Corsini).
Cap. Gianelli was commander of 365a Sq. since july 1942 (before him, Cap. Domenico Bevilacqua).

Best Regards

gianandrea

[Ludovico Slongo]

Ciao Andy,
just a note regarding Giuseppe Giannelli. Before the kind post of Ferdinando I didn't even know that he had been CO of 365 Squadriglia in 1943, but according with a source in my possess (that is the Yearbook of Regia Aeronautica for 1943) he was promoted Capitano on February the 6th 1941.
Regards

Ludovico.

[veltro]

Gianandrea and Ludovico, thanks for the head-up about the rank of Gianelli. Nice to see how informations can still be improved and focused through the years.

Brian, you're welcome.